Mowing-machine.



1. w. 'L TIMER, MOWING MACHINE, APPLICATION HLED OCT-28,1912.

Patented Apr. 11,1916.

enrrsn I sf? TETS PATENT 9 mm I JOHN W. LATIMEB,

or oHIcAeo, ILLINOIS, AssIorno'R' T0 inrnnuarionanimnvns'rnn 7 COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY, ACORPQRATION OF NEW JERSEY. I

MOWING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OI-IN lV. LATIMER', a citizen of the-United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

- My invention relates to mowing machines,

and in particular to means for raisinglthe finger bar about its pivotal connection with the coupling frame from a horizontal to a vertical position relative to the wheeled.

frame; the object of my invention being to provide a COIlSlZI'llCtlOIl whereby such a result is attained a direct and efficient man- 'the finger bar and to provide 'improved means for cushioning the throw of the finger bar as it approaches a vertical position.

through the operation of the} lifting lever in one direction, and insuring the return there f of to a horizontal position when the lifting lever is moved in an opposite direction.

I attain these ob ects by means of, mechanism', one embodiment of whlch is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

' which Figure 1' represents a side elevation of part of a mowing machine'having my invention embodied in' its construction; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of part of Fig. 1; Fig.3

' is a front elevation of part of Figs. 1 and 2 is a fragmentary part of theimecha'nism,

and designed to illustrate the manner of mounting a part of the finger bar controlling mechanism upon the coupling yoke; Fig. .4

partlyin section, on an enlarged scale, and designed to illustrate the construction of the spring buffer mechanism that engages with the finger bar as it approaches a vertical position; and Fig. 5 is a detached detail of abracket member forming. part of the finger bar controlling mechanism.

Like reference numerals deslgnate like parts throughout the several views.

I with the main frame:

connections I V 9 represents a ceupling yoke, having a Specificationof Letterslfatent. P t nte A1513 1, 1

Application filed. October-28, 1912. Serial No; 728,105. i i

'1 represents a part ofthe main frame of v the machine, 2 the draft tongue, 3 the lifting sector 4L in a commonway to holdthe cutting apparatus in an adjusted position, 5 the tilt-.

I ing lever pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine.

6 represents a common form of coupling frame having thefront' member 7 thereof arrangedat right angles with the line of draft of the machine andhaving its-stubbleward endpivotally connected with the frame of'the machine in a manner permitting the grainward end thereof to be raised or lowered in a vertical plane, anda rearwardly.

and s'tubblewardly inclined member'S having its rear i end also sleeve portion 10 whereby the yoke is mount- .ed upon the member 7 of'the coupling frame in a manner-permitting a rocking movement of the yoke thereon, the sleeve 10 having integral therewith a vertically arranged arm llthat is conneetedwith the tilting lever 5 V by means of a'link12. The'yoke 9 includes the downwardly, extending hangers 13 having openings therein arranged parallel with theline of draft of the machine and-adapt ed to receive the {coupling pins 14 whereby the yoke ispivotally connected with. the inner shoe 15 forming part of the cutting apparatus-"of the machine,and 16 represents the finger bar having the inner end thereof secured to said shoe; all of the above enumerated parts being, common inthe class of machinesindicated and not of my invention.

' 17 represents abracket member having an eye portion 181 at the front end thereof adapted, to loosely'receive the sleevelO, and a stirrup member 19 at its rear end that is adapted to be clamped to' the member .8 of theicoupling frame by means vof a bolt 20.

21 represents a sleeve member integral with the bracket, arranged parallel with the line of draft of the machine and in substantially a horizontal plane,,having opposite ends'thereof upon opposite sides of the axis of the sleeve 10.

pivotally connected 22 represents a shaft received by the sleeve member 21 and adapted to rock therein. Secured to the front end of said shaft is an arm 23 having one end of a link 24 pivotally connected therewith, the opposite end of the link being connected with a vertically arranged car 25 integral with the shoe 15 by means of a link 26, and 27 represents an arm secured to the opposite end of shaft 22.

28 represents a link having one end pivotally connected with the arm 27 and the opposite end thereof connected with one end of a link 29 by means of a clevis member 30, the connection between the two links being such as to permit a limited universal movement thereof in their cooperative relations. The opposite end of link 29 is pivotally connected with the lifting lever 3. V

31 represents a barrel member integral with the yoke 9 at the rear end thereof and adapted to slidably receive a plunger 32that is provided with a reduced portion 33, and 34 represents a compression spring encircling the reduced portion and operative between one end of the barrel and the plunger in a manner to yieldingly project the plunger in a grainward direction and within the path of the finger bar when it is raised to a vertical position. The arm 23 is provided with a snubbing portion 35 that is adapted to engage with the link 2% during part of the operative movement thereof, and the arm 27 is provided with a like snubbing portion 36 that engages with the link 28 during a part of its operative movement.

l/Vhen it is, desired to raise the finger bar to a vertical position the operator will pull the upper end of the lifting lever 3 rearward, suchmovement, through the link con nections therewith, rocking the shaft 22, and through the link connection 24 between arm 23 and car 25, the power is directed in a mannerto raise the finger bar. During the initial movement rearward of the lifting lever the link 28 isin the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, with one edge thereof contacting with the sn-ubbing portion 36 of arm 27; the result being that the power is directed first to raise the grainward end of the finger bar and the coupling frame, and as the link 28 and arm 27 move toward the position shown by full lines in Fig. 3, the power is directed in a manner to raise the finger bar to a vertical position and against the plunger 82. Since the plunger in sliding stubbleward moves the force of spring a, when the lifting lever is thrown forward to lower the finger bar, the force of this spring 84 is directed against the finger bar in a manner causing the latter to swing outward until, by gravity, it will fall to a horizontal position. It will also be noted that in my improved construction the tilting mechanism for the bar 16 is operable entirely independently of the lifting mechanism therefor, the sleeve 10 of the yoke being freely turnable in the eye portion 18 of the bracket 17.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it is to be understood that the form chosen is used for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit, it being my intention to include all such forms within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as being my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. In a mowing machine, a frame, a lifting lever pivoted thereon, a coupling frame also pivotally connected thereto, a yoke rotatably mounted on said coupling frame, a bracket carried on said coupling frame in which said yoke is rotatable, a shoe operatively connected to said yoke, and means for adjusting said shoe journaled in said bracket and operatively connected to said lifting lever and said shoe.

2. In a mowing machine, a frame, a coupling frame, a yoke rotatably mounted thereon, a bracket carried on said coupling frame having a portion thereof through which said yoke extends, a shoe operatively connected to saidyoke, and means journaled in said bracket and operatively connected to said shoe whereby said shoe may be adjusted independently of a rocking movement of said yoke, V

3. In a mowing machine, a frame, a coupling frame pivotally mounted thereon, a bracket rigidly attached to said coupling frame, a, shaft journaled in said bracket and disposed parallel tov the line of draft, a lever on said main frame, a yoke journaled on said coupling frame, a shoe operatively connected to said yoke, and lever mechanism between the opposite ends of said shaft and said lever and shoe.

4:. In a mowing machine, a frame, lever mechanism pivoted thereon, a coupling frame pivotally connected to said main frame, a finger bar pivotally connected to said coupling frame, a longitudinally disposed shaft journaled on said coupling frame, a snubbing member carried upon one end of said shaft, link connections between said snubbing member and said lifting lever, a cooperating snubbing member carried on the opposite end of said shaft, and link connections between said member and said finger bar.

5. In a mowing machine, a main frame, a lifting lever pivoted thereon, a coupling frame pivotally connected to said main frame, a finger bar operatively connected to said coupling frame, a longitudinally disposed shaft journaled on said coupling frame, a substantially triangular shaped snubbing member carried on one end of said shaft and operatively connected to said lifting lever, and a cooperating Substantially triangular shaped snubbing member carried on the opposite end of said s'haft'and operatively connected to said'finger bar.

6. In a mowing machine, a' coupling frame, a longitudinally disposed shaft journaled thereon, a short link carried on one,

of a main frame, a coupling frame operatively connected thereto, a yoke operatively connected to said coupling frame, a finger bar operatively connected to said yoke, an operating lever for said finger bar, connecting means between said operating lever and said finger bar whereby the latter may be raised and lowered, and a member through which said connecting means passes having a loose connection with said yoke to permit the rocking of said yoke upon the coupling frame independent of the finger bar actuating mechanism. v

8. In a mowing machine, the combination of a main frame, a coupling frame operatively connected to said main frame, a yoke operatively connected to said coupling frame, a finger bar hinge-joined to said yoke, means for raising and lowering said finger bar about its pivot, and a bracket, said raising and lowering means being journaled in said bracket and said bracket being rigidly joined to the coupling frame and joined to said yoke whereby said yoke may be rocked upon the coupling frame independent of the finger bar actuating mechanism. I

9. A mowing machine including, in combination, a main frame, a coupling frame including a member having one end thereof pivotally connected with said main frame and movable about its pivot in a transverse plane relative to the line of draft of the machine, a yoke adapted to rock about the axis of said'coupling member, a shoe pivotally connected with said yoke, the axis thereof being parallel with the linevof draft of the machine, a finger bar secured to said shoe, means for swinging said finger bar about the axis thereof and raising and lowering said coupling frame, said means including a lifting lever carried by said main frame, a rock shaft 'journaled in a bearing carried said yoke and arrangedparallel with the line of draft ofthe machine, arms secured to opposite ends of said shaft and disposed upon opposite sides of the axis of said yoke, said arms being provided with snubbing portions, a link con-- nection'between one of said arms andsaid lifting lever and between the remaining arm and said shoe, said snubbing portions engaging with the respective link connections during a part of the rocking movement of said shaft.

10. A mowing 'machine including, in

combination, a main frame, a coupling frame including amember having one end thereof pivotally connected with said main frame and movable about its pivot in a transverse plane relative to the line of draft of the machine, a yoke adapted to rock about the axis of said coupling member, a shoe pivotally connected with said yoke, the axis thereof being parallel with the line of draft of the machine, a finger bar secured to said shoe, means for swinging, said finger bar about the axis thereof and raisingand lowering sald coupling frame, sald means including a lifting lever carried by saidmain frame, a rock shaft journaled in a bearing 1 carried by said yoke and arranged parallel with the line of draft of the machine, arms secured to opposite ends of said shaft and disposed in front and rear of the axis of said yoke, said arms being provided with snubbing portions, a link connection be tween said rear arm and sald liftlng lever,

I and a link connection between saidfront arm and sald shoe, sald snubbmg portions adapted to engage respectively with the rear and front link connections during a part of the finger bar raising movement of'said mechanism. 7 V

11. A mowing machine including, in combination. a main frame, a coupling frame including a transverse member arranged at rightrangles with the line of draft of the machine and having the stubbleward end thereof pivotally connected with said main frame and movable about its pivot in a vertical plane, and a diagonally arranged member extending rearward and stubbleward and having the rear end thereof pivotally connected with said main frame, a yoke provided with a sleeve portion receiving the transverse member of said coupling frame and adapted to rock about the axis thereof, a shoe pivotally connected with said yoke, the axis thereof being parallel with the line of draft of the machine, a finger bar secured to said shoe, means for swingingsaid finger bar about the axis thereof and raising and loweringsaid coupling frame, said means including a lifting lever carried by said main frame, a bracket member having one end thereof loosely mounted upon said yoke,

its opposite end secured to the diagonal and said lifting lever and between said remember of said coupling frame, a rock shaft maining arm and said shoe. journaled in a bearing carried by said bracket member and arranged parallel with JOHN W. LATIMER. 5 the line of draft of the machine, arms se- 'lVitnesses:

cured to opposite ends of said shaft, and J. J. OCoNNoR, link connections between one of said arms 1b. J. TEUFEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissionr 01' Patents, Washington, D. G. 

